Big Apple Bound: Wolverines to Face Arkansas in Jimmy V Classic at MSG
8/21/2024 3:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- In conjunction with ESPN and the V Foundation, the University of Michigan men's basketball team announced Wednesday (Aug. 21), the Wolverines will travel to New York City and play Arkansas in the Jimmy V Classic on Tuesday, Dec. 10 at Madison Square Garden.
In the annual ESPN broadcast, the Wolverines and Razorbacks will be the second game of a doubleheader scheduled for a 9 p.m. tipoff. Miami and Tennessee open the day's play at 6:30 p.m.
The Jimmy V Classic, named for legendary college basketball coach Jim Valvano, annually raises money and awareness for the V Foundation for Cancer Research. The Classic began in 1995 and is in its 30th year -- and 21st at Madison Square Garden.
To date, ESPN has helped raise more than $236 million for the V Foundation since 1993. ESPN's annual V Week has helped to raise nearly $89 million over the past 17 years.
In what will be Michigan's first invitation to the Jimmy V Classic, the Wolverines take on John Calipari's Razorbacks in the eighth all-time series meeting. U-M has a one-game edge, 4-3, and claimed the series' last win 12 years ago at Crisler Center -- 80-67 (Dec. 8, 2012).
Additionally, Michigan's David and Meredith Kaplan basketball coach Dusty May makes a second straight trip to the Jimmy V Classic after taking his Florida Atlantic squad to the Big Apple last season to take on Illinois. In a back-and-forth scoring battle, the Illini claimed a 98-89 victory over May's Owls.
In the Big Apple, the Wolverines hold a 26-11 record at the World's Most Famous Arena. Last season, U-M secured its 11th straight win after an 89-73 victory over Rick Pitino's St. John's program in the Gavitt Tipoff Games. Graduate guard Nimari Burnett was instrumental in U-M's win after scoring a career-best 21 points -- one of two 20-plus point Wolverines.
Tickets for the men's doubleheader will go on sale this fall. Priority and access to the best seats will be offered to fans who sign up for the pre-sale through jimmyvclassic.com.
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Dusty May, David and Meredith Kaplan Men's Basketball Head Coach
"Playing in the Jimmy V Classic for a second straight year is not only an honor, but it will be a special opportunity for our program. The city, the atmosphere, and playing in the Garden is a tremendous experience for our team and Michigan fans. However, it's not just about a game against Arkansas. It's about bringing continued awareness for the research that needs to be done so hopefully one day we can rid the world of this disease."
Michigan All-Time vs. Arkansas (4-3)
12/30/1966: W, 82-72 (Los Angeles Classic, Los Angeles, Calif.)
12/6/1980: W, 78-65 (Crisler Arena, Ann Arbor, Mich.)
11/28/1981: L, 83-72 (Barnhill Arena, Fayetteville, Ark.)
3/26/1994: L, 76-68 (NCAA Tournament, Dallas, Texas)
3/25/1997: W, 77-62 (NIT Semifinal, New York, N.Y.)
1/21/2012: L, 66-64 (Bud Walton Arena, Fayetteville, Ark.)
12/8/2012: W, 80-67 (Crisler Center, Ann Arbor, Mich.)
Michigan at Madison Garden
• U-M has a 26-11 record in Madison Square Garden.
• U-M has won 11 straight games at MSG -- an 11-year unbeaten streak.
• Its last loss came against Duke, 71-56, on Nov. 21, 2008 in the 2K Sports Classic championship.
• U-M has a 13-3 postseason record at the Garden, reaching the NIT final weekend there five times -- 1971, 1984, 1997*, 2004, 2006 -- and winning three titles (1984, 1997* and 2004)
• U-M's first-ever game at MSG was during the 1948 NCAA Eastern Regional. The Wolverines finished third after falling to Holy Cross (63-45) in the semifinal and beating Columbia (66-49).
• In 2018, U-M won four games in four days (for a second straight year) to claim a second straight Big Ten Tournament, beating Purdue (75-66). The Wolverines would go on to the 2018 Final Four and national title game.
• Twice U-M has participated in the Big Ten Super Saturday at MSG -- 2016 (basketball/hockey) and 2020 (basketball/wrestling). The Wolverines won both games -- against Penn State (79-72) and Rutgers (69-63).
